Maternity-gown.



J. A. HERMAN.

MATERNITY GOWN,

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 11, 1911.

Patented NOV.5,1912 F! G2.

PATENT orrrc JACOB AARON HERMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATERNITY-GOWN.

oaaesa.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB AARON HER- MAN, a citizen-of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Maternity- Gowns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparel, and more especially it is an adjustable gown; and its object is to provide for adjusting the gown forward of'the sleeves and at either side of the front opening in such manner that a trim appearance can be maintained.

In order to carry out this object the invent-ion consists more particularly in the specific manner of forming the plaits so as to preserve the beauty of thegarment under varying conditions dueto its adjustment.

That is to say, below the waist line the plaitsare made permanent or fixed as by stitching them along their edges, the stitching'preferably reinforced at the waist line by the socket members of the fastening or adjusting devices hereinafter described; while above the waist line the plaits are left free or loose in order to produce a fullness of cloth which fits the wearers figure at all times and adapts itself to varying oonditions.

My preferred manner of carrying out this invention is set forth in detail in the following specification and claim, and illustrated in the drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective View represent- .ing the gown when adjusted to its smallest size; Fig. 2 is a perspective view representing the gown when adjusted to its largest size; Fig. 3 is a perspective view representing the gown when again adjusted to its smallest size and showing the front open in order that a mother can nurse a child; Fig. i is a'section on the waist line of the gown when adjusted as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectiori'of certain parts adjusted as in Fig. .4; Fig. 6 is a section on the waist line of the gown when adj usted'as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed section of certain parts adjusted as in Fig. 6.

This improved gari'nent is composed of a waist 1 and skirt 2, and these parts may be integrally connected or stitched together. The waist may have sleeves as shown, or not, but this detail does not enter into the invention. By preference it is open down Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

Application filed November 11, 1911. Serial No. 659,787.

its front to the waist line, the right side 3 having hooks 4 and the left side 6 having eyes 5 or other suitable fastening devices, so that the garment may be closed as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 or opened as seen in Fig. 3 when the mother desires to nurse her child. The opening in the front may be continued below the waist line to the bottom ofthe skirt 2 if desired, but this detail is unimportant and is not illustrated. Obviously the hooks and eyes 4 and 5 might be replaced by other fastening devices forming no part of the present invention.

The peculiarity of this garment consists in forming each front gore or side section 3 and 6 rather full just above the waist and folding the material in -.two or more loose plaits 7 and8 which always run out to not-hwhen the garment is contracted as seen in 'ingbelow the bust, are not very pronounced Fig. 1, are still less so when the garment is plaits 9, because, although they are capable of-opening as wide as the lower endsof the plaits '7. and 8, their extreme edges are fixed as by means of stitching or otherwise but certainly by the means set forth below; and these plaits 9 aline with the plaits 7 and 8 and are by preference extended from the waist line to the bottom of the garment about .as indicated.

While any suitable form of adjusting devices may be employed, I prefer studs 13 and sockets 14: and in any event they will be located along the waist line 12. Where each side of the garment has two plaits 7 and 8, there will be two series of studs 13 with perhaps five studs in each series as best secn in Fig. 5, and the shanks of the studs will be attached to the material in any suitable manner with their heads outside the garment. Coacting with the studs in each serieswill be a socket 14 as well shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and this socket may be attached to the material in any suitable manner but will by preference define the upper. end of the fixed plait 9 in the skirt whether said plait is stitched from that point downward or not, as a stud is well well adapted to the be carried to the point illustrated in Fig. 7 where the socket engages the last stud 13 of the series. The plaits 9 in the skirt 2 are now opened to their widest extent, and would open no farther if the stud and socket members were entirely disengaged; and the plaits 7 and 8 of the waist l are opened nearly to their largest extent, their folds 10 which were more or less pronounced.

in Figs. 4 and 6 having now been reduced to a minimum, and it is clear that these would disappear entirely if the stud and socket were disengaged. While this expedient may be resorted to if the bust became very large, ordinarily the gown will be proportioned properly so that the adjustment need not be carried beyond the innermost stud 13 in each series, and therefore the fixed plait9 in the skirt is continued upward in appearance just past-the waist line 12 into each of the waist plaits 7 and 8, and inlmediately begins to fade away so that in any event it disappears beneath the bust. I consider it of great advantage to form this garment with the points or lines of adjustment between the arms and the front line, both because it is preferable to provide fullness in maternity gowns at the front rather than at either sideor in theback, and because the fitof the garment, the lines of its plaits, and the continuity of its figure if it be of'figured goods will be maintained in this manner whereas they would be destroyed if. the adjustment, were at other places. But the gist of my invention lies in fixing the edges of the skirt laits and leaving the waist plaits loose or ree, while having them coincident .with each otherso that the gown may be enlarged from time to time as described above.

In connection with this improvedgown I I preferably make use of a belt 15 secured as at the points 16 to the back 11 of the gown and having a buckle 17 or other device by means of which its free ends may be brought together and fastened at the front; and the use of such a belt will'cover the adjusting devices 13 and 14 although they may be of.

such character that they will not be at all unsightlyif the belt be entirely omitted as some wearers. prefer.

Throughout this specification I have purposely avoided details as to the material, sizes, and proportions of parts, as these are evidently unimportant.

I repeat that other fastening devices than 'hooks and eyes might be employed along the front, andother adjusting devices than studs and sockets might be employed around the waist line.

What is claimed as new is j The herein described adjustable gown comprising a skirt and a .waist, the skirt having fixed plaits merging into loose plaits in the waist forward of the arms, and adjusting devices for each plait consisting of one member permanently fixed to the edge of the skirt plait and a series of members on the outer face of the material, between .plaits, with any of which members said fixed member may engage, all said devices being 10-- cated along the waist line and adapted to be concealed by" the belt.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB AARON HERMAN. Witnesses:

WALDO SMITH, J r., HERMAN E. KESSLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, I). O. 

